Luke's Life's Work Serves Church And Neighbors

Reminiscing

Bertie L. Luke was honored June 8 for a half-century of dedication and service to Calvary Assembly of God. Although the name has changed, it is the same church she joined June 8, 1947.

The Rev. Vester L. Raburn presented her a 50-year plaque and a 50-year lapel pin during the morning worship services at the church, 711 N. Thacker Ave.

In addition to her tireless work at Calvary Assembly, she has also been an active worker for the past 27 years at the Child Development Center at First Baptist Church in Kissimmee.

Luke, who turns 70 today, was born in Crawfordville, near Tallahassee. She was 2 1/2 when her father died. Her mother remarried and the family settled in Kissimmee.

When she came to Osceola in 1942, Luke said, Thacker Avenue was a brick road. There was a dairy where Osceola High School stands today.

Luke and her late husband, Alvin Luke, met in Kissimmee. She was 20 when they married in 1947. He was foreman of the Water and Sewage Department for the city of Kissimmee. Alvin Luke died 13 1/2 years ago.

Their son, Terry DeWayne Luke, 36, was born and reared in Kissimmee. He graduated from Osceola High School in 1979. Terry Luke is a lineman and has worked for Kissimmee Utility Authority for more than 16 years.

Bertie Luke said after she was married, she started going to church with her mother-in-law, Lula Luke - one of the oldest members of the congregation at the time. The church was known as Calvary Chapel and was on Church Street.

Although Luke joined the church in 1947, she was not baptized until 1953.

''Back then they would wait until there were several to baptize. I was baptized by the Rev. A.L. Kirkland in a lake on Pleasant Hill Road in 1953,'' she said.

During her 50 years at the church, Luke has had only four pastors: the Rev. A.A. Allen, Kirkland, the Rev. G.W. Cook and the Rev. Vester L. Raburn.

''When our present pastor, Vester L. Raburn, came along in 1970, we bought the land and built Calvary Assembly of God on Thacker Avenue,'' she said.

Over the years Luke worked at Ivey's Packing House, McCrory's and Western Auto. She had been working in the lunchroom at Osceola High for five years when she was offered a job at the First Baptist Child Development Center, which was started in 1970.

''I have been a cook, a teacher, and I drove the church van and the church bus for senior citizens when they went on a trip. In 1973, I gave up the rest and have just cooked since then,'' she said.

Over the years Luke has remained a tireless worker at Calvary Assembly. She was instrumental in getting the Sunday school classrooms enlarged.

She has worked with the Christ Ambassadors youth group. She has also driven the church van, been in the choir, led the Missionette, led the women's ministry, taught vacation Bible School and Sunday school, and served as Sunday school secretary, assistant Sunday school superintendent and superintendent.

Over the years Luke has worked with many Osceola children and some of their parents - in the Sunday school classroom and at the Child Development Center.

Luke still works in the office at Calvary Assembly. Each Sunday morning she arrives at 8:15 to answer the phone and to help the Sunday school teachers with supplies for their morning classes. She still works at the Child Development Center.

Luke said she has worked since she was 14 and doesn't expect to retire any time soon.

''I have to stay busy and I praise the Lord that he has keep me healthy,'' she said.